On 23/7, Duc was sentenced by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court to 15 years for illegal drug trafficking and 20 years for drug appropriation. His combined sentence is 30 years, the maximum term for non-life imprisonment.
Nguyen Phuong Hieu, Duc's accomplice, received a 30-year sentence for the same two charges, plus an additional charge of illegal possession of military weapons.
Nguyen Thanh Tuyen and Le Quang Dai received 20-year sentences. Six other defendants received sentences ranging from 7 to 20 years for illegal drug trafficking, drug appropriation, and illegal possession of military weapons.
Two other defendants received two-year sentences for concealing the crime. Several other suspects remain at large and will be dealt with later by the investigative authorities.
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Mai The Duc and accomplices in court. Photo: Hai Duyen |
During the trial, the defendants confessed to the crimes as outlined in the indictment. In 2023, Tuyen, Dai, and their accomplices formed a group on social media to trade drugs. Duc, aware of their activities, planned to rob them and resell the drugs.
On the afternoon of 24/10/2023, Duc contacted Dai to order half a kilogram of drugs for 210 million VND. The next day, when Dai confirmed the availability of the drugs, Duc gathered Hieu and other accomplices to execute the robbery plan. They brought a gun with six bullets and pepper spray.
Upon meeting to collect the drugs, Duc asked Dai to take him to an apartment building in Ward 14, Go Vap District, supposedly to deliver the drugs to a customer. In reality, Hieu and the others were posing as buyers.
As planned, Hieu initially handed over 30 million VND, with the remaining amount to be transferred electronically. While Duc pretended to count the money, Hieu's group grabbed the drugs and fled.
Dai saw Duc getting on his motorbike and chased after him, pulling him to the ground. Duc and his accomplices then used pepper spray and shot Dai in the back.
That same afternoon, Dai reported a robbery to the local police. However, the investigation revealed it to be a case of illegal drug trafficking and appropriation. Duc's group divided the stolen 100 grams of drugs amongst themselves.
The suspect who shot Dai is still at large and will be dealt with later by the investigative authorities.
Hai Duyen
